"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and Investing

Somesh Dash, General Partner at IVP, discusses how IVP differentiates itself, winning late stage deals, team construction, venture capital in 2024 resembling private equity in 2008, and the future of IVP.

Frank Rotman, founding partner of QED investors, discusses investing in fintech and neo banks, the macro environment, discipline in business, and the potential of crypto. They explore neo banks, digital disruption in the banking industry, expanding fintech and crypto investments, and the complexity of understanding crypto. They also discuss macro risk, building durable businesses, and opportunities in the fintech industry for startups.

The podcast discusses the advantages of investing across asset classes, CoVenture's inflection points, and the importance of being liked in venture. It explores the flaws in credit and venture capital investing, the unique approach of using a venture mindset in credit, and the benefits of investing in companies in different ways. The podcast also explores the possibility of expanding into multiple asset classes, addressing the housing crisis, and investing in the cryptocurrency asset class. It touches on the relationship between returns, multiples, and capital in asset management, and discusses whether venture firms will evolve into asset management firms.

Tomasz Tunguz, General Partner at Theory Ventures, discusses the Theory Ventures model, the contraction in investable VC dollars, the parallels between PE and VC, and the significance of research and analysis in venture capital. They also explore LPs and venture firm fundraising, the future of multi-stage VC firms, the current state of the economy and software and fintech sectors, and the ideal concentration of companies in a fund and the future of accelerators.

Phin Barnes, co-founder of The General Partnership, talks about building a YC for emerging fund managers, the sweat equity model, and the challenges of probabilistic reasoning at scale. They also discuss the importance of diversity of thought, supporting founders at different stages, and ownership in venture firms.

Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and Seven Seven Six, discusses how Seven Seven Six is a “tech company that deploys venture capital”, the lack of internal metrics in venture, and how he plans to reinvent venture using software. They also explore the importance of accountability, transparency, and the development of a CRM tool to improve workflow efficiency. They discuss their venture firm's focus on early stage investments, incubation of companies, and the incentivization of employees to build billion-dollar businesses. They also talk about expanding investments, potential opportunities with incubation and accelerator models, and the challenges of scaling in the venture industry.

Katherine Boyle, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz leading the firm’s American Dynamism fund, discusses the importance of investing in America, the role of tech in solving civic problems, and the decrease in status of government work. They also explore trauma, the intersection of religion and technology, and the importance of seriousness and resolute beliefs.

Rebecca Kaden, Managing Partner at Union Square Ventures, discusses USV's partnership-driven model, venture strategies, automation in venture, and what qualities USV looks for in investors. They also explore the future of venture capital, advancements in mental health care and psychedelics, software's potential in improving outcomes in the infertility space, and the possibility of Union Square Ventures in 2023. The chapter also touches on product offerings, network activities, and effective marketplace management.

Topics discussed include the viability of M&A for startups, the role of reputation systems, the future of VC, the potential for a hundred billion dollar crypto company, the different types of VCs and their success strategies, the rise of creators in tech media, and the challenges of creating an advanced reputation system.

Elad Gil, an accomplished investor and founder, shares insights on the idea maze, solo capitalism, and identifying viable business opportunities. He discusses sectors like AI, crypto, and EdTech, as well as the challenges of innovating in social networking and exploring new directions. Gil also delves into the crypto market, the potential of technology in healthcare, and the future of venture capitalism. Lastly, he explores a web 3 LinkedIn competitor and blockchain-based identity verification.